GPDS emerge victorious at Presidential Export Awards

The world’s leading cinnamon exporter clinches two prestigious awards in the spices and allied products sector

GP de Silva and Sons International, the leading player in producing and exporting cinnamon amongst many other spices, clinched two prestigious awards for ‘best exporter’ in the spices and allied products sector for the year 2010 and 2011 at the Presidential Export Awards (PEA) held on 16 December at Nelum Pokuna.

Regarded as one of the highest recognition platforms for exporters in Sri Lanka, the PEA is spearheaded by Exports Development Board (EDB). The awards were presented to 130 winners from 27 different sectors by President Maithripala Sirisena.

GP de Silva and Sons International Managing Director Lal De Silva commenting on the award stated, “We are very delighted to have been recognised for our immense efforts and contribution in the export sector of Sri Lanka. This reflects well on our continuous drive to enhance and innovate on packaging, quality and brand value whilst sharing knowledge and experience among others in the industry.”

GPDS Managing Director Lal De Silva and GPDS Director Nihal De Silva receiving the best exporter awards in the spices and allied products sector from Minister of Primary Industries Daya Gamage (left)

“We are striving in all possible ways to take the company as well as the spices industry in Sri Lanka to greater heights in the global landscape and we’re confident to thrive in similar achievements in the future,” he further said.

Sri Lanka is known for its richness in a range of spices such as cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, mace amongst others, and over a 90pct of these are exported to the end-users such as flavour, fragrance, and pharma industries. Cinnamon accounts for a major proportion in the spices and allied products sector.

The spices and allied product sector’s exports rose to $ 319.45 million this year from $ 260.3 million in 2014, according to stats from EDB. The major markets for last year were India, Mexico and United States followed by Germany, Peru, Colombia, Spain, UK, Guatemala, and Ecuador.

GPDS team (from left): Exports Manager Sashika De Silva, Amila De Silva, Managing Director Lal De Silva, Director Nihal De Silva, Upuli De Silva and General Manager Priyadharshani Halpe

Founded by a courageous visionary entrepreneur G P De Silva in 1955, the company dominated the domestic market during the period and in late 1970s it ventured into global markets with its first shipment to Chile. Today GP de Silva and Sons International is the world’s largest cinnamon exporter fulfilling over 90% of the global demand for true cinnamon every year, shipping to key markets such as Mexico, South America, USA, UK, Middle East, and Europe. It has an international office in California, USA.

GP de Silva and Sons International which is the largest exporter of true, high quality cinnamon also exports nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, desiccated coconut, cardamom, essential oils, mace, dried lime and a wide range of other products. The company has won many local accolades in the past for its vast contribution to the export sector, and with a belief of a strong culture of giving back to the society it has initiated many CSR programs in the country.

With a motive of recognising and awarding the contributions made by exporters in Sri Lanka, the Presidential Export Awards was initiated by EDB in 1981. It has evolved to become a symbol for export enterprises to push them further to achieve similar accomplishments.